- What is challenging about self-reflection?
Finding the time for it is difficult. It can also be hard to be honest with yourself. Also, sometimes I get negative and hard on myself.
- How can you continue to build the habit of self-reflection at Turing?
These weekly journal exercises will surely inspire greater reflection. I also like to have reflective conversations throughout the week with my partner.
First, create you own social identity map on a piece of paper (or print this out):
Outer ring: write words that describe your given identity Middle ring: list aspects of your chosen identity Center: write your core attributes—traits, behaviors, beliefs, values, characteristics, and skills that you think make you unique as an individual. Select things that are enduring and key to who you are. After you complete your map:
Underline the items that are important to you Put a + beside the items that you believe clearly demonstrate that you fit into the tech industry Put a - beside the items that you believe do not demonstrate that you fit into the tech industry Put a ? beside the items that you’re unsure how they could show your ability to contribute to the tech industry
Reflect: What does your social identity tell you about what you already bring to the tech industry?
I'm a learner, and I'm good at learning. I am also careful and thoughtful, with a strong desire to think things through and do them correctly. I'm also adventurous and brave, with a desire to find out new information and find ways to do things I couldn't do before.
What would it look like for some of your minuses or question marks to turn into pluses? In other words, how could some of these traits be assets for the tech industry?
While I think of myself as adventurous, I'm also cautious. Careful. I think things through. While this may present as hesitation or fear, it can be an asset. It means that I care about the outcome and quality of my work and I will put in the time to ensure it.
- Always valued: Caution, Compassion, Courage, Integrity, Reliability
- Often valued: Adventure, Variety, Generosity, Competence, Discipline
- Sometimes valued: Ambition, Grace, Financial Stability, Good Taste, Dignity
- Seldom valued: Risk Taking, Status, Openness, Patriotism, Perfection
Reflect: What do these values tell you about yourself?
I'm fairly risk-averse, but I'm willing to take well-thought and calculated risks to meet my goals. Ambition is not my primary driver, but I do seek a basic level of success and financial freedom. I have a sense of adventure and a strong desire for new experiences, but this is tempered by my sense of discipline and caution. I care a great deal about how I treat others, and how they treat me. I value compassion and integrity greatly. I won't compromise myself for career advancement or ambition.
Summarize what good, worthwhile work means to you (Tip: this is NOT about what work you want to do but about why work matters to you):
Ideally my work will give back to society in some way. I was a teacher before this and valued the sense that I was giving back to my community. I also enjoy work where I can see the outcome of my efforts. I like creating something that is visual or tangible. Finally, I want to do work that is valued. I want the people I work for to see and appeciate what I do.
Lifeview: summarize what you value in life; what matters to you?
What matters is time: having time to pursue my passions and time to enjoy the things that make my life worth living. I care immensely about work/life balance. I want a job that allows me the time to read, enjoy live music, cook at home, and (more than anything) enjoy time with my family.
Where do your views on work and life complement each other?
A job that values me will hopefully reward me with benefits that will allow me to have a great work/life balance with the time and resources to enjoy being alive.
Where do they clash?
In my experience, the more a job "gives back to society", the less it is valued by society. Many of the jobs that are altruistic in nature are also low-paying, lacking in respect, and involve exhuastive work schedules.
Does one drive the other? How?:
My Lifeview absolutely dives my workview. I am looking for work that will be satisfying, maybe even something I can be proud of, but
it must also allow for work/life balance. I am taking the risk of a major career shift with the goal of staring a career in which I can meaningfully contribute without being constantly burned out.
I have had jobs in which I felt perpetually overworked and underappreciated, so I am trying to change that. At the end of the day I want a job
with a good salary that will still allow me to spend time with my family and have fun with them.